By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
HANSON -- It wasn't 'The Shot Heard 'Round the Bluegrass,' but for nearly 250 students at Hanson Elementary, Cameron Mills' half-court shot to win a game of P-I-G will be heard for a long time in Hopkins County. So will his message.
Mills, a former University of Kentucky men's basketball player, wrapped up his two-day, six-school visit to Hopkins County on Wednesday with a friendly shooting competition with five Hanson students following his motivational speech.
Instead of discussing his time at UK, Mills, who also does ministry work, discussed a low moment in his life to help inspire those in attendance.
"In some of my messages for churches and stuff, I'll use stories that aren't mine and they work, but when it's your story, something that's happened to you, it seems to come across more personal," he said. "There's more of a heart pull, because it's something you went through and you remember the feelings you had in that moment and you can kind of convey them."
On Wednesday, Mills told a story about when he went to visit his high school, Paul Laurence Dunbar, in May 1998 shortly after receiving his championship ring.
During the visit, Mills said he watched a class of 70 sophomore students perform a square dance in physical education class just as Mills had done during his time at Dunbar. As the children paired up, one boy danced with a girl who Mills described as 'different.'
As the boy and girl danced, the boy's friends, who did not have partners, teased him. After a song and a half, the boy stopped dancing and ran from the gym in embarrassment.
Mills, a former University of Kentucky men's basketball player, wrapped up his two-day, six-school visit to Hopkins County on Wednesday with a friendly shooting competition with five Hanson students following his motivational speech.
Instead of discussing his time at UK, Mills, who also does ministry work, discussed a low moment in his life to help inspire those in attendance.
"In some of my messages for churches and stuff, I'll use stories that aren't mine and they work, but when it's your story, something that's happened to you, it seems to come across more personal," he said. "There's more of a heart pull, because it's something you went through and you remember the feelings you had in that moment and you can kind of convey them."
On Wednesday, Mills told a story about when he went to visit his high school, Paul Laurence Dunbar, in May 1998 shortly after receiving his championship ring.
During the visit, Mills said he watched a class of 70 sophomore students perform a square dance in physical education class just as Mills had done during his time at Dunbar. As the children paired up, one boy danced with a girl who Mills described as 'different.'
As the boy and girl danced, the boy's friends, who did not have partners, teased him. After a song and a half, the boy stopped dancing and ran from the gym in embarrassment.
Mills said he felt disappointed in himself because he did not choose to step in and volunteer to dance and left the gym, too.
With the story, Mills said he hopes to encourage children to develop strong character.
"They expect to hear stories of 'Well, this is how you should be. This is how you need to be, so let me tell you how I've succeeded in that area,' " he said. "With me anyway, I've got more failure stories than I do anything else, I really do."
Throughout his speech, the children listened intently and displayed enthusiasm.
"I'll keep you out of class as long as possible," Mills said when he first picked up his microphone. The kids roared in approval.
When Mills finished his story, he said "It is your responsibility to do right. Can you handle that responsibility?," as the children nodded.
Following the speech, Mills played a game of P-I-G with fifth-graders Oliver Nelson, Conner Kenney, Brenden Carver, Jasmine Moss and third-grader Kalveona Pepper. After several layups, free throws and jump shots, the field narrowed to Mills and Nelson.
Each player missed their first couple tries to knock out the other, but then Mills stepped behind part of the crowd seated on the gym floor for the game-winning shot. At half-court, just inside the out-of-bounds mark on the right side, Mills hoisted a shot toward the hoop, which found the bottom of the net.
Nelson toed the same mark for an opportunity to match the feat and nearly did so as his shot missed after hitting the front of the rim.
Once the game ended, Mills posed for pictures and signed autographs for the children. Mills' shot might be what most of the children remember when they think of his visit, but for some the story will also carry weight.
"I think the message is understand whether you do the right thing or the wrong thing, it doesn't just affect you," he said. "There's a ripple effect. It affects other people and it may affect other people directly or it may affect them indirectly. One way or another it has consequences beyond just you."
With the story, Mills said he hopes to encourage children to develop strong character.
"They expect to hear stories of 'Well, this is how you should be. This is how you need to be, so let me tell you how I've succeeded in that area,' " he said. "With me anyway, I've got more failure stories than I do anything else, I really do."
Throughout his speech, the children listened intently and displayed enthusiasm.
"I'll keep you out of class as long as possible," Mills said when he first picked up his microphone. The kids roared in approval.
When Mills finished his story, he said "It is your responsibility to do right. Can you handle that responsibility?," as the children nodded.
Following the speech, Mills played a game of P-I-G with fifth-graders Oliver Nelson, Conner Kenney, Brenden Carver, Jasmine Moss and third-grader Kalveona Pepper. After several layups, free throws and jump shots, the field narrowed to Mills and Nelson.
Each player missed their first couple tries to knock out the other, but then Mills stepped behind part of the crowd seated on the gym floor for the game-winning shot. At half-court, just inside the out-of-bounds mark on the right side, Mills hoisted a shot toward the hoop, which found the bottom of the net.
Nelson toed the same mark for an opportunity to match the feat and nearly did so as his shot missed after hitting the front of the rim.
Once the game ended, Mills posed for pictures and signed autographs for the children. Mills' shot might be what most of the children remember when they think of his visit, but for some the story will also carry weight.
"I think the message is understand whether you do the right thing or the wrong thing, it doesn't just affect you," he said. "There's a ripple effect. It affects other people and it may affect other people directly or it may affect them indirectly. One way or another it has consequences beyond just you."
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